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THE 

GUATEMALAN SPECIACHISSION 

TO THE 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 



TO EXPRESS TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES 
THE GRATITUDE OF THE GOVERNMENT AND PEOPLE 
OF GUATEMALA FOR THE SERVICE RENDERED TO HU 
MANITY IN THE SUCCESSFUL PROSECUTION OF THE WAR 
AGAINST GERMANY 



35 



CEREMONIES AT WASHINGTON 

NOVEMBER 21 
1919 




WASHINGTON 
1919 



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THE 

GUATEMALAN SPECIAL MISSION 

TO THE 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 



TOiEXPRESS TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES 
THE GRATITUDE OF THE GOVERNMENT AND PEOPLE 
OF GUATEMALA FOR THE SERVICE RENDERED TO HU- 
MANITY IN THE SUCCESSFUL PROSECUTION OF THE WAR 
AGAINST GERMANY 

i 



CEREMONIES AT WASHINGTON 

NOVEMBER 21 
1919 




WASHINGTON 

1919 







r^. •! ifm 
FEU t« 1920 



MEMBERS OF THE GUATEMALAN SPECIAL MISSION 



THE HONORABLE MAXIMO SOTO HALL, 

Special Representative of the Executive of the Republic of Guatemala. 

THE HONORABLE MANUEL MA. GIRON, 

Special Representative of the Legislature of the Republic of Guatemala. 

THE HONORABLE JOSE SERRANO MUNOZ, 
Special Representative of the Judiciary of the Republic of Guatemala. 



(3) 



LETTER OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES 
TO THE GUATEMALAN SPECIAL MISSION 

DECREE OF THE NATIONAL LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF 

THE REPUBLIC OF GUATEMALA AND MINUTE ADOPTED 

BY THE SUPREME COURT OF THE REPUBLIC 

OF GUATEMALA 

Addresses delivered by — 

THE HONORABLE ROBERT LANSING 

Secretary of State of the United States 

THE HONORABLE MAXIMO SOTO HALL 

Chairman of the Guatemalan Special Mission 

THE HONORABLE JOSE SERRANO MUNOZ 

Special Representative of the Judiciary 
of the Republic of Guatemala 

NOVEMBER 21, 1919 



(5) 



LETTER OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES 
TO THE GUATEMALAN SPECIAL MISSION 

The White House, 

Washington, 3 December, 1919. 

Gentlemen of the Mission : 

It has been a source of xQvy real gratification to me to learn of 
the generous mission which has brought you to Washington, and I 
deeply regret that it has not been possible for me to greet you in 
person. I wish you to be assured, however, of my deep appreciation 
of the honor done me by the Assembly of Guatemala, especially be- 
cause of the unusual fact that the Executive, Legislative and Judi- 
ciary of Guatemala, in separate resolutions, expressed such warm 
and friendly sentiments. May I ask you to say to the President, as 
well as to the Members of the National Assembly and of the Judi- 
ciary how greatly their greetings have cheered me and have strength- 
ened the purposes for which we are all striving? 
Cordially and sincerely yours. 



AVooDROw Wilson. 



Honorable Maximo Soto Hall. 
Honorable Manuel Ma. Giron. 
Honorable Jose Serrano Munoz. 




151703—19 2 (7) 



[Translation.] 



DECREE NO. 1017. 

©Iff BjfgtBlattt!? AfiBrmblg of tt|f S^publtr of O^uat^mala. 

Whereas: The entrance of the United States of America into the 
World War, in the cause of the sacred rights of Humanity, in the 
defence of civiHzation and for the triumph of Right and Justice, is 
an event of transcendent magnitude which decided the issue of the 
gigantic struggle, bringing victory to the Allied armies, thanks to 
the valor and strength of the mighty contingents brought into the 
lists by the Great Republic of America which at all times under the 
aegis of its power and greatness has been and is now the leader of 
Democracy and faithful guardian of the destinies of the New Con- 
tinent; 

Whereas: The decisive step, to which in their patriotism the Ameri- 
can people fully responded, was due to the wise and farseeing policy 
followed by the President of the Union, Woodrow Wilson, who, with 
the confidence of genius and the enthusiasm of a seer, pointed out 
to his country the necessity of, and glory in, the war, took a befitting 
part in its conduct, and when the time came, laid the foundations of 
Peace by his lofty and brilliant performance in the international 
agreements that culminated in the Treaty of Versailles, including the 
League of Nations, that immortal code which guarantees the future 
sway of Peace and Right over the world ; 




(9) 



Whereas: So great and humanitarian an act, which will stand as 
an object lesson for centuries, has won for the illustrious President 
Wilson the world's admiration and gratitude as the benefactor of 
mankind and defender of the sacred eternal principles on which the 
relations of men and States with one another must rest: Therefore 

The National Legislative Assembly Decrees : 

Article 1. The Republic of Guatemala places on record a vote 
of everlasting acknowledgment and gratitude to the President' of 
the United States of America, Woodrow Wilson, for his eminently 
patriotic and humanitarian attitude in the World War, which is in 
keeping with the highest ideals of the three Americas. 

Article 2. A Commission of representatives of the Assembly will 
place this decree in the hands of President Wilson. 

Let it pass to the Executive to be published and put into effect. 

Given at the Palace of the Legislative Power, at Guatemala, the 
second day of October, one thousand nine hundred and nineteen. 

Arturo Ubicg, 

President. 
Manuel Ma. Giron, B. Alvarado T., 

Secretary. Secretary. 

Palace of the Executive Power, 

Guatemala, October 2, one thousand nine hundred and nineteen. 

Let it be published and put into effect. 

Manuel Estrada C. 
G. Aguirre, 

Secretary of State for the Department of Finance and Public 
Credit, hi charge of the Department of Foreign Relations. 




(10) 



TEXT OF MINUTE ADOPTED BY THE SUPREME COURT 

OF GUATEMALA 

[Translation.] 

The Stipreme Court of Justice Representing the Judicial Power 
of the Republic of Guatemala, sharing the lofty sentiments which 
moved the Legislative Assembly to decree an enthusiastic manifes- 
tation in honor of the fruitful and transcendent efforts put forth 
in the Cause of Justice, Liberty and Democracy by the great States- 
man, the Most Excellent, the President of the United States of 
America, Mr. Woodrow Wilson, whose action during the World War 
for Peace and the defense and support of the rights of Mankind, 
has aroused the admiration and applause of the most civilized na- 
tions of the Earth, Resolves : to appoint Licentiate Don Jose Serrano 
Muiioz, of the said Supreme Court of Justice, to lay before His Ex- 
cellency. Mr. President Wilson, in conjunction with the Commission 
which represents the Legislative Power, the heartfelt congratula- 
tions and homage of sincere gratitude of the Judicial Power of 
Guatemala, and also the wishes it makes for the ever growing pros- 
perity of the Great American Republic and its most deserving Chief 
Magistrate. 

Given at Guatemala, on this fifteenth day of the month of October, 
one thousand nine hundred and nineteen. Sealed with the Great 
Seal of the Judiciary Power and signed by the President and the 
Secretary of the Supreme Court of Justice. 

[Signed] A. Batres Jauregui, 

President. 

[Signed] Jose Salazar Z., 

Secretary. 



(11) 



ADDRESS OF THE HONORABLE MAXIMO SOTO HALL 

CHAIRMAN OF THE GUATEMALAN SPECIAL MISSION 

IN PRESENTING TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE THE RESOLUTION OF THE 
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF GUATEMALA AND THE SPECIAL MINUTE OF THE 
SUPREME COURT, EXPRESSING TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES 
THE GRATITUDE OF THE GOVERNMENT AND PEOPLE OF GUATEMALA FOR 
THE SERVICE RENDERED TO HUMANITY IN THE SUCCESSFUL PROSECU- 
TION OF THE WAR AGAINST GERMANY 



[Delivered at the Department of State, Washington, November 21, 1919.] 



[Translation.] 
Your Excellency: 

It is a great honor to me to address Your Excellency on behalf of 
the three highest powers of the Republic of Guatemala, while deeply 
regretting that the undermining of the precious health of His Ex- 
cellency Dr. Woodrow Wilson, President of the Republic, prevents 
us from delivering into his hands the decree issued by the national 
legislative assembly, which decree the representative of that august 
body will have the honor to deposit in your hands. 

The truly admirable procedure of the great republic of the north 
in the recent w^orld events has won for it the admiration and grati- 
tude of all the civilized peoples of the earth, both owing to the 
promptness with wdiich it intervened in the great tragedy and owing 
to its action, which will produce such beneficent and important results 
in the future destinies of mankind. 

Guatemala could not remain indifferent in view of facts of such 
magnitude, and its national representative body performed a duty 
of strict justice by issuing a decree in honor of His Excellency Dr. 
Woodrow Wilson, who, with the firm and heroic support of all his 
fellow citizens, brought about, in the hour of greatest peril, the tri- 
umph of democracy threatened with death. 

(13) 



In thus acting, the national assembly did nothing more than faith- 
fully express the feelings of enthusiastic and profound sympathy to- 
ward the government and people of the United States of America 
which animate the government and people of Guatemala. 

On his part His Excellency the President of the Republic, in order 
to lend greater prominence to this manifestation of confraternity and 
as a fresh evidence of the firm and cordial friendship on which all 
his acts are based, ordered that the three powers constituting the 
supreme government of the country should be represented on the com- 
mission bearing this significant document. 

AVhile performing the grateful mission intrusted to us as repre- 
sentatives of those powers, and particularly in the name of His Ex- 
cellency Dr. Manuel Estrada Cabrera, we hereby express our earnest 
wishes for the early and complete recovery of His Excellency Dr. 
Woodrow Wilson, whose cherished health so greatl}^ concerns all 
nations, and for the happiness and prosperity of the great North 
American nation. 

And I, as representative of the executive power, have the honor to 
state to Your Excellency that you may consider that, in shaking my 
hand, you are shaking the hand of His Excellency Dr. Manuel Estrada 
Cabrera himself, and that you receive therewith testimonials of the 
loyal, sincere, and frank friendship which inspire the President of 
Guatemala toward the government and people of the United States 
of America. 




(14) 



ADDRESS OF THE HONORABLE JOSE SERRANO MUNOZ 

SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE JUDICIARY OF THE REPUBLIC OF GUATEMALA 

IN PRESENTING TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE THE MINUTE ADOPTED BY 
THE SUPREME COURT OF GUATEMALA 



[Translation.! 

Most Excellent Mr. Secretary : 

It is gratifying to me to place in the hands of Your Excellency 
the minute adopted by the Supreme Court of Justice of the Republic 
of Guatemala in honor of His Excellency, Dr. Woodrow Wilson on 
account of his brilliant action during the World War in behalf of 
Peace and of the defence and support of the rights of humanity. 
Your Excellency will kindly accept the warm congratulations and 
the sincere gratitude of the Judiciary of Guatemala, as well as the 
good wishes which I hereby express in its name for the ever-increas- 
ing prosperity of the Great Republic and for the happiness of its 
most deserving Chief Magistrate. 




(15) 



ADDRESS OF THE HONORABLE ROBERT LANSING 

SECRETARY OF STATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

IN EXTENDING A WELCOME TO THE GUATEMALAN 
SPECUL MISSION 



[Delivered at a Formal Luncheon Tendered by the Secretary of State in Honor 

of the Mission.] 



Gentlemen of the Guatemalan Mission : 

On behalf of the President and the Government of the United 
States I extend to you a sincere and hearty welcome. It is not often 
that we have the honor of receiving a delegation which represents the 
three coordinate branches of a Government, thus expressing the com- 
plete national character of its mission. This spontaneous expression 
of friendship and good will on the part of the executive, legislative, 
and judicial authorities of Guatemala possesses a deeper significance 
than the limitations of language can well express. It voices the unitj^ 
of thought and purpose of our respective nations. Without hesitation, 
your people joined with ours in responding to the call for the vindi- 
cation of right and justice. I well recall the memorable words of 
Mr. Mendez in transmitting to this Government notice of the sever- 
ance of diplomatic relations with Germany. 

" I take pleasure," he said, " in reiterating that Guatemala from 
the first has adhered to and supported the attitude of the United 
States in the defense of the rights of nations, the liberty of the seas, 
and of international justice, and that it always has considered itself 
in unity with your great Nation in the lofty principles which it has 
so wisely proclaimed for the good of humanity. 

" Therefore, Guatemala takes the greatest pleasure in oifering to 
the United States of America her territorial waters, her ports and 
railways, for use in common defense, as also all elements which may 
be available for the same purpose." 

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I am certain tliat history affords few instances of a more generous 
and unequivocal offer of cooperation, a greater evidence of confi- 
dence and friendship. The unity of purpose expressed in this mes- 
sage is indicative of that hirger unity of the ideals which should 
always characterize the relations between (iuatemala and the Ignited 
States. With common purposes and mutual good will the future in- 
tercourse of our two countries will bring to both a truer and better 
understanding and that sympathy which only sincere friendship ever 
knows. 

I want to take this opportunity to express to you, and through you 
to President Estrada Cabrera, the profound appreciation of the Gov- 
ernment of the United States as well as my personal thanks not only 
for the offer of cooperation, to which I have referred, but for the 
effective service rendered during the great struggle from which we 
have just emerged. In this nu\rked evidence of his confidence, now 
emphasized by the presence here of you, gentlemen, I see a happy 
augury of the future years before us. 

A happy circumstance makes the celebration of to-day coincide 
with the natal day of President Estrada Cabrera. I wish to avail 
myself of this opportunity to extend to him congratulations and 
warm wishes and to assure him of the deep feeling of friendship 
that we all entertain for him. Gentlemen, I propose the health of 
President Estrada Cabrera. 




(18) 



ADDRESS OF THE HONORABLE MAXIMO SOTO HALL 

IN REPLYING TO THE ADDRESS OF WELCOME OF SECRETARY LANSING 



[Translation.] 

His Excellency Mr. Secretary : 

We are deeply thankful for the words which you were pleased to 
speak in behalf of Guatemala, its Government, and the Commission 
over which I have the honor to preside. They are all the more sig- 
nificant because coming- from so eminent a personage as Your Ex- 
cellency, and because they show unmistakably how you have appre- 
ciated the attitude of Guatemala toward the United States at all 
times and particularly on the important occasion to which you refer. 
We are and always have been good friends of this great Nation, and 
His Excellency President Doctor Estrada Cabrera has endeavored 
to demonstrate this at every opportunity. 

While regretting the breakdown of the health of His Excellency 
Doctor Woodrow Wilson and wishing him early recovery, we hope 
that this Nation, ever greater and more prosperous, may continue 
successfully along the glorious path which it has traced for itself. 

In conclusion, I take pleasure in thanking you very sincerely for 
your remembrance of His Excellency Doctor Estrada Cabrera, espe- 
cially as this is his birthday, and, on his behalf and voicing his senti- 
ments, I propose a health to the Government and people of the 
United States of America and for Your Excellency's happiness. 







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020 933 494 A 



